Device and assembly for, and method of, converting a sitting toilet to a squat toilet

ABSTRACT

A sitting toilet is converted to a squat toilet. A seat having a bottom surface is formed with a channel. A support has a central hinged portion, a pair of leg portions that extend away from the hinged portion, and a footrest structure mounted on the leg portions. The hinged portion is mounted on a front of the bottom surface of the seat for movement between a stowed position in which the support is at least partly received in the channel, and a deployed position in which the support maintains a user seated on the seat in a squatting posture. The leg portions extend toward a floor on which the toilet is supported in the deployed position. The footrest structure is positioned forwardly of the seat to support a seated user&#39;s feet at a raised elevation above the floor in the deployed position.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure generally relates to a device and an assembly for, and a method of, converting a sitting toilet to a squat toilet.

A toilet is a sanitation fixture used for the disposal of human urine and feces. A sitting toilet, sometimes called “the Western style,” is designed for people who prefer to sit on a seat raised above the floor above a toilet pan or bowl by using a toilet pedestal. A squat toilet, sometimes called “the Eastern style,” is designed for people who prefer to squat above a toilet pan or bowl, typically situated at floor level, with a person's thighs and bent knees tucked close to the person's abdomen and chest.

Human physiology is thought to be better suited to assume a squatting posture during waste elimination. The human body has a bend, also known as the anorectal angle, between the rectum (where the feces builds up) and the anus (where the feces comes out). When standing upright, the anorectal angle is about 90 degrees, which puts upward pressure on the rectum and keeps the feces inside the body. In a squatting posture, this bend partially straightens out, and waste elimination is easier and faster, with less straining and less abdominal pressure during bowel movement, thereby reducing hemorrhoid risk and constipation. The human body has a puborectalis sling muscle. Squatting relaxes this sling muscle, which, in turn, allows the waste to pass through the anus easier.

A sitting toilet is not designed for squatting. If a person has a sitting toilet and wishes to assume a squatting posture during waste elimination, then, in theory, it is possible for the person to squat over the sitting toilet, for example, by perching on a rim of the bowl, or by moving a step stool or the like in front of the toilet and by climbing up the step stool, and by positioning oneself on the step stool above the bowl. However, this not only requires the step stool to be readily available, but also requires some extra care and some athletic skill for the person to climb the step stool, to properly and non-precariously position oneself relative to the bowl, and to prevent oneself from sliding or falling off the rim or the step stool during waste elimination.

Accordingly, it would be desirable to readily convert a sitting toilet to a squat toilet without exposing a person to accidental injury during waste elimination.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views, together with the detailed description below, are incorporated in and form part of the specification, and serve to further illustrate embodiments of concepts that include the claimed invention, and explain various principles and advantages of those embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of an assembly for converting a sitting toilet to a squat toilet during movement of a support from a stowed position to a deployed position in accordance with this disclosure.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the assembly of FIG. 1 in the stowed position, as seen from below a toilet seat.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a part-sectional, side elevational view of the assembly of FIG. 1 in the deployed position.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the support of the assembly of FIG. 1 in isolation.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a part-sectional, part-broken-away, front elevational view of the assembly of FIG. 1 in the deployed position.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 8-8 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 9 is a part-sectional, part-broken-away, view of a leg portion of the assembly of FIG. 1 in isolation in one adjusted length position.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 10-10 of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a part-sectional, part-broken-away, view of the leg portion of FIG. 9 in another adjusted length position.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 12-12 of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a part-sectional, part-broken-away, view of the leg portion of FIG. 9 in still another adjusted length position.

FIG. 14 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 14-14 of FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a part-sectional, part-broken-away, view of a modified leg portion of the assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 16 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 16-16 of FIG. 15.

FIG. 17 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 17-17 of FIG. 16.

FIG. 18 is a part-sectional, part-broken-away, view of a central hinge portion of the support mounted on a seat of a modified assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 19 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 19-19 of FIG. 18.

FIG. 20 is a part-sectional, part-broken-away, view of a central hinge portion of the support mounted on a seat of a modified assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 21 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 21-21 of FIG. 20.

Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions and locations of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention.

The structural and method components have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one feature of this disclosure, a device for converting a sitting toilet having a seat to a squat toilet, includes a support having a central hinged portion, a pair of leg portions that extend away from the hinged portion, and a footrest structure mounted on the leg portions. The hinged portion is mounted on a front of a bottom surface of the seat for movement to a deployed position in which the support maintains a user seated on the seat in a squatting posture. The leg portions extend toward a floor on which the toilet is supported in the deployed position. The footrest structure is positioned forwardly of the seat to support a seated user's feet at a raised elevation above the floor in the deployed position.

In accordance with another feature of this disclosure, an assembly for converting a sitting toilet to a squat toilet, includes a seat having a bottom surface formed with a channel, and the above-described support. The hinged portion is mounted for movement between a stowed position in which the support is at least partly received in the channel, and the above-described deployed position.

In accordance with still another feature of this disclosure, a method of converting a sitting toilet having a seat to a squat toilet, is performed by configuring a support with a central hinged portion, by extending a pair of leg portions on the support away from the hinged portion, by mounting a footrest structure on the leg portions, and by mounting the hinged portion on a front of a bottom surface of the seat. The method is further performed by moving the support to a deployed position in which the support maintains a user seated on the seat in a squatting posture, by extending the leg portions toward a floor on which the toilet is supported in the deployed position, and by positioning the footrest structure forwardly of the seat to support a seated user's feet at a raised elevation above the floor in the deployed position. In a preferred embodiment, a channel is formed in the bottom surface of the seat, and the support is moved from the deployed position to a stowed position in which the support is at least partly received in the channel.

Referring now to the drawings, reference numeral 10 in FIGS. 1 and 4 generally identifies a toilet that has been converted from a sitting toilet to a squat toilet in accordance with this disclosure. The illustrated toilet is a flush-type toilet and has a water tank 12, a bowl 16, and a seat 16 pivotably mounted on the toilet between an up position in which the seat 16 is generally upright and slightly tilted rearwardly toward the tank 12, and a down position in which the seat 16 generally horizontally overlies the bowl 16 in a plane generally parallel to the floor 20 (see FIG. 4) and contacts, and is supported by, a rim 18 of the bowl. The seat 16 has a central opening and is configured to match the shape of the rim 18, and is typically ovoidal, as shown. The toilet 10 may also have a non-illustrated, conventional lid to cover the seat 16. Other types of toilets and other types of seats are also intended for use with this disclosure.

As best seen in FIG. 2, the seat 16 has a bottom surface 22 formed with a plurality of lifts 62 that contact the rim 18 in the down position, and with a downwardly-open channel 24 whose generally U-shaped configuration matches that of a generally U-shaped support 26. As best seen in FIG. 7, the support 26 has a central hinged portion 28, a pair of leg portions 30, 32 that continuously extend away from the hinged portion 28, and a footrest structure, which includes a pair of footrests 34, 36, respectively mounted on the leg portions 30, 32. Preferably, the support 26 is a solid or hollow, cylindrical tube, but other shapes are possible. The hinged portion 28 is mounted on a front area 38 of the bottom surface 22 of the seat 16 for movement between a stowed position (see FIG. 2) in which the support 26 is at least partly, if not entirely, received in the channel 24, and a deployed position (see FIG. 4) in which the support 26 maintains a user (shown in phantom lines in FIG. 4) seated on the seat 16 in a squatting posture, with the user's bent knees and thighs tucked close to the user's abdomen and chest. The leg portions 30, 32 extend toward the floor 20 on which the toilet 10 is supported in the deployed position. In the stowed position, the support 26 is held in place in the channel 24 under tension by a pair of springs 44, 46 (see FIG. 2) whose leading ends contact and bear against the leg portions 30, 32 (see FIG. 8).

The footrests 34, 36 are positioned forwardly of the seat 16 to support a seated user's feet at a raised elevation above the floor 20 in the deployed position. Each footrest 34, 36 is mounted on a respective leg portion 30, 32 for pivoting movement between a folded-up position (see FIGS. 1-2) adjacent, and in-line with, the respective leg portion 30, 32, and a folded-out position (see FIG. 7) extending transversely of the respective leg portion 30, 32 in a direction generally parallel to the floor 20. Each footrest 34, 36 preferably is U-shaped in section (see FIG. 6) so that each footrest 34, 36 can snugly receive the respective leg portion 30, 32 in its interior in the folded-up position.

Each leg portion 30, 32 is elongated and terminates in a base 40, 42 that contacts the floor 20 in the deployed position. Each leg portion 30, 32 is adjustable in length between the hinged portion 28 and a respective base 40, 42. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1-7, this adjustability is obtained by providing an interior threaded portion 44, 46 (see FIG. 5) within a lower hollow end of each leg portion 30, 32, and by providing a pair of exteriorly threaded studs 48, 50 (see FIG. 7) on the bases 40, 42. The studs 48, 50 are threaded into the interior threaded portions 44, 46 to any desired extent, thereby adjusting a height (H) of the footrests 34, 36 above the floor, as well as adjusting the lengths of the leg portions 30, 32.

FIGS. 9-14 depict another embodiment for adjusting the height (H). Rather than interiorly threading the lower hollow end of each leg portion 30, 32, their interior hollow portions are unthreaded, smooth bores. Rather than providing exteriorly threaded studs, the exterior surfaces of the studs 46 are smooth. The studs 46 are mounted for free sliding movement in, and along, the bores of the leg portions 30, 32. A spring-loaded detent 48 is mounted in the bores and is urged into a selected one of a plurality of openings spaced apart lengthwise of the studs, to thereby adjust the height (H) by sliding the stud until a selected one of the openings receives the detent 48.

FIGS. 15-17 depict another embodiment for mounting the footrests 34, 36 on the leg portions 30, 32. Rather than pivotably mounting the footrests 34, 36 at a single mounting position and a single elevation on the leg portions 30, 32, the footrests 34, 36 can be adjustably mounted on the leg portions 30, 32 so that the footrests 34, 36 can be moved to multiple mounting positions and multiple elevations on the leg portions 30, 32. Thus, the representative leg portion 30 in FIG. 15 is provided with a succession or linear row of teeth 52 along its length, and the representative footrest 34 is provided with a latch 54 that engages a selected one of the teeth 52. As shown in FIG. 17, the footrest 34 is tilted in one direction to disengage the latch 54 from one of the teeth 52, and then is positioned adjacent any other one of the teeth 52 and is latched in position by tilting the footrest 34 in the opposite direction and engaging the other selected tooth.

The hinged portion 28 is a shaft that, as described above, is mounted on the bottom surface 22 at the front area 38 of the seat 16. As shown in FIG. 2, the hinged shaft portion 28 is journaled by a bearing 56 for pivoting movement. The bearing 56 is mounted and fixed in position at the front of the seat 16 by mounting fasteners 58. This embodiment is advantageously employed in a retrofit or permanent installation.

As shown in the embodiment of FIGS. 18-19, the hinged shaft portion 28 may also be temporarily journaled for pivoting movement by one or more sleeves 60 that are wrapped entirely around the front area 38 of the seat 16. Each sleeve 60 is preferably a fabric material that has hook-and-loop fasteners 64 at opposite end regions thereof to securely and temporarily journal the hinged shaft portion 28. This embodiment is advantageously employed in a non-permanent installation, for example, by a traveler encountering a public restroom.

Another type of non-permanent installation can be realized, as shown in the embodiment of FIGS. 20-21, by installing a pair of clamps 70, 72 at opposite sides of the front area 38 of the seat 16, and by journaling the hinged shaft portion 28 between the clamps. This embodiment is advantageously employed by a homeowner, for example, who wishes to convert his or her existing sitting toilet installation to a squat toilet in one's home.

In the stowed position, the support 26 is well out of the way for cleaning and aesthetic purposes, and is readily usable, by persons of both sexes, for waste elimination by assuming sitting postures. If a person wishes to avail oneself of the squatting posture, then the toilet is readily converted to a squat toilet by deploying the support 26 to the deployed position described above. The person need not precariously perch on the rim 18 of the bowl 14. There are no step stools that need to be located, and moved to the toilet. After use, the support 26 is readily returned to the stowed position.

In the foregoing specification, specific embodiments have been described. However, one of ordinary skill in the art appreciates that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims below. Accordingly, the specification and figures are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of present teachings.

The benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essential features or elements of any or all the claims. The invention is defined solely by the appended claims including any amendments made during the pendency of this application and all equivalents of those claims as issued.

Moreover in this document, relational terms such as first and second, top and bottom, and the like may be used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “has,” “having,” “includes,” “including,” “contains,” “containing,” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or arrangement that comprises, has, includes, contains a list of elements does not include only those elements, but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or arrangement. An element proceeded by “comprises . . . a,” “has . . . a,” “includes . . . a,” or “contains . . . a,” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or arrangement that comprises, has, includes, or contains the element. The terms “a” and “an” are defined as one or more unless explicitly stated otherwise herein. The terms “substantially,” “essentially,” “approximately,” “about,” or any other version thereof, are defined as being close to as understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, and in one non-limiting embodiment the term is defined to be within 10%, in another embodiment within 5%, in another embodiment within 1%, and in another embodiment within 0.5%. The term “coupled” as used herein is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly and not necessarily mechanically. A device or structure that is “configured” in a certain way is configured in at least that way, but may also be configured in ways that are not listed.

The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to allow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, it can be seen that various features are grouped together in various embodiments for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separately claimed subject matter. 

1. A device for converting a sitting toilet having a seat to a squat toilet, comprising: a support having a central hinged portion, a pair of leg portions that extend away from the hinged portion, and a footrest structure mounted on the leg portions, the hinged portion being mounted on a front of a bottom surface of the seat for movement to a deployed position in which the support maintains a user seated on the seat in a squatting posture, the leg portions extending toward a floor on which the toilet is supported in the deployed position, and the footrest structure being positioned forwardly of the seat to support a seated user's feet at a raised elevation above the floor in the deployed position.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein each leg portion is elongated and terminates in a base that contacts the floor in the deployed position, and wherein each leg portion is adjustable in length between the hinged portion and a respective base.
 3. The device of claim 1, wherein the footrest structure includes a pair of footrests respectively mounted on the leg portions.
 4. The device of claim 3, wherein each footrest is mounted on a respective leg portion for pivoting movement between a folded-up position adjacent the respective leg portion, and a folded-out position extending transversely of the respective leg portion.
 5. The device of claim 3, wherein each footrest is adjustably mounted on a respective leg portion for movement between a plurality of different elevations relative to the floor in the deployed position.
 6. The device of claim 1, wherein the support has a generally U-shaped configuration, and wherein the hinged portion includes a shaft that is mounted on the front of the bottom surface of the seat for pivoting movement.
 7. The device of claim 1, wherein the support is detachably mounted on the front of the bottom surface of the seat.
 8. An assembly for converting a sitting toilet to a squat toilet, comprising: a seat having a bottom surface formed with a channel; and a support having a central hinged portion, a pair of leg portions that extend away from the hinged portion, and a footrest structure mounted on the leg portions, the hinged portion being mounted on a front of the bottom surface of the seat for movement between a stowed position in which the support is at least partly received in the channel, and a deployed position in which the support maintains a user seated on the seat in a squatting posture, the leg portions extending toward a floor on which the toilet is supported in the deployed position, and the footrest structure being positioned forwardly of the seat to support a seated user's feet at a raised elevation above the floor in the deployed position.
 9. The assembly of claim 8, wherein each leg portion is elongated and terminates in a base that contacts the floor in the deployed position, and wherein each leg portion is adjustable in length between the hinged portion and a respective base.
 10. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the footrest structure includes a pair of footrests respectively mounted on the leg portions.
 11. The assembly of claim 10, wherein each footrest is mounted on a respective leg portion for pivoting movement between a folded-up position adjacent the respective leg portion, and a folded-out position extending transversely of the respective leg portion.
 12. The assembly of claim 10, wherein each footrest is adjustably mounted on a respective leg portion for movement between a plurality of different elevations relative to the floor in the deployed position.
 13. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the support and the channel each has a generally U-shaped configuration, and wherein the hinged portion includes a shaft that is mounted on the front bottom surface of the seat for pivoting movement.
 14. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the support is detachably mounted on the front of the bottom surface of the seat.
 15. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the support is permanently mounted on the front of the bottom surface of the seat.
 16. A method of converting a sitting toilet having a seat to a squat toilet, comprising: configuring a support with a central hinged portion; extending a pair of leg portions on the support away from the hinged portion; mounting a footrest structure on the leg portions; mounting the hinged portion on a front of a bottom surface of the seat; and moving the support to a deployed position in which the support maintains a user seated on the seat in a squatting posture, by extending the leg portions toward a floor on which the toilet is supported in the deployed position, and by positioning the footrest structure forwardly of the seat to support a seated user's feet at a raised elevation above the floor in the deployed position.
 17. The method of claim 16, and forming a channel in the bottom surface of the seat, and moving the support from the deployed position to a stowed position in which the support is at least partly received in the channel.
 18. The method of claim 16, and contacting the floor with a base on each leg portion, and adjusting each leg portion in length between the hinged portion and a respective base.
 19. The method of claim 16, and configuring the footrest structure with a pair of footrests respectively mounted on the leg portions, and mounting each footrest on a respective leg portion for pivoting movement between a folded-up position adjacent the respective leg portion, and a folded-out position extending transversely of the respective leg portion.
 20. The method of claim 16, and configuring the footrest structure with a pair of footrests respectively mounted on the leg portions and adjustably mounting each footrest on a respective leg portion for movement between a plurality of different elevations relative to the floor in the deployed position. 